Monday, April 27, 2015

It's easy to do. To take a few instances and make it a universal truth.

I've been getting posts about this in my Facebook feed. These pictures show lies, so therefore everything in your life is a lie. It's an easy trap to fall into.

Just because that one guy was a jerk doesn't mean all guys are jerks.
Just because one person got hurt on that ride doesn't mean everyone will get hurt.
Just because your team lost when you watched the game doesn't mean you have to not watch any for them to win.
Just because you had a bad day when it rained doesn't mean every rainy day is going to be a bad day.

You get the picture. Learn to separate a single truth from a universal truth. It will make life much better.

Monday, April 20, 2015

This came across my path last week, I had never heard of it and did a little research.

Basically, this paradox says that people are more likely to take part in a risk if they know the odds than if they don't know the odds. Here's an example: If I say, "Buy a lottery ticket, the odds of winning are two million to one," I am more likely to sell that ticket than if I were to say, "Buy this lottery ticket, but I don't know the odds of you winning." Realistically I could have a waaaaay better chance of winning with the second ticket, but just because of the fear of not knowing I am more likely to go with the first ticket.

We like to know, we hate not knowing (I've written about that before). But I had never thought about the fact we are willing to go out on a limb that we will most likely lose just because we know we might lose rather than not know what our chances are. We would rather take an extremely slim chance over an unknown chance (even though the unknown chance could be infinitely better).

I wonder if this is what holds us back from growing in Christ. If I knew telling people about Jesus would bring a 1 in 100 return rate, I'd know my odds so I'd tell people about Jesus. However, not knowing how many people will like what I say it's safer to just tell no one. If I knew how Jesus would use my faith I'd step out even if it was hard and took forever to come true, but since I don't know it's safer to not step out.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Last week was a big day for fans of "Lost". Not really, but if you've seen the show there was a string of numbers that inevitably led to bad luck: 4, 9, 15, 16, 23, 42. So, like Pi day this year (3.141592653) the numbers can be turned into a date and time this year (Lost = Apr. 9, 15, 4:23:42pm).

What does this have to do with anything? I have no idea. The numbers were crucial to many stories in the show except for one thing, it was never explained what they mean and why they were so vital. There are guesses on the internet, but it was never explained. Neither was the polar bear, the Darma shark, why the island needed a "Jacob", etc. There were tons of things that were just never, ever explained.

For my wife, that was horrific. She needed to know. We would finish some episodes and she'd get mad at the TV, "Now I'm more confused." My sister would ask me questions while on the chatboards and searching the internet for information. They had a hard time with accepting in the show you just will not know, you will never understand, and we will never go back to help you get it.

There are many people in my life like that. I think it's part of being in the digital information age. Any answer we want is at our fingertips. Except they're not all there, nor are the all right. To fully trust in God means there are things we just can't understand. I don't know how the Trinity works, and I'm okay with that. But are you? Can you handle not knowing all there is to know about God and still believe in Him?

I also don't know how light works, scientists are still trying to figure it out, but I believe it exists and I don't question it. Same with gravity or many other things in our universe. Maybe when it comes to God we need to have the same attitude, I don't know how it works, but I see the effects and I trust it's there. Is that good enough to start a faith journey with Christ?

“Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything about the Almighty? ‎Such knowledge is higher than the heavens— and who are you? It is deeper than the underworld— what do you know? ‎It is broader than the earth and wider than the sea. ~ Job. 11:7-9 (NLT)

Monday, April 06, 2015

It's easy to get wrapped up in Sunday morning. Christ is risen, appears to people, God be praised and worshipped, Sunday is a great ride. But what do you do Monday?

Monday is what decides how real Easter is for you. Monday is the day where we stop celebrating and start living the resurrection. Monday is the day where faith leaves the four walls of the church and becomes real for the world.

Too many of us love Jesus on Sunday. What about Monday? How are you living out the event of complete holy love that you celebrated yesterday?